Wizards' Pupils

[Keeper of Dol Guldur]

I always saw Ithilien as more of a successor to Lothlorien ... like; "We Men aren't all stone castles and deforestation, we appreciate nature too."

It really stems from how much Legolas enjoyed his short time there. Didn't he say that after he brought some of his kindred to fill Minas Tirith with trees, he would take them to Ithilien and wander for a while?

Not only does that suggest a friendship that he probably formed with Faramir, but also that this was one of those places ...

He was really into Fangorn, and presumably Rivendell as well, for different reasons, and even was made to love the Glittering Caves. But he talked about visiting those places, not staying there for any extended period.

I think Ithilien reminded him of Ossiriand. Not that he was ever an inhabitant of The Land of The Seven Rivers, but he probably, like most elves, knew something about it.

Could Faramir be called an Elf-Friend?

Aragorn certainly could ... probably Eomer too.